Red Hat provides several installation types to choose from. Although we think that you can probably get away with having less space on your system, we decided to give you the minimum disk space requirements Red Hat suggests for each installation option:
Server: Creates an operating system environment for computers that provide services such as hosting Web pages. This installation requires 850MB of free space if you want only minimal bells and whistles, at least 1.4GB of free space if you want to install all the bells and whistles but not the graphical X Window System, and at least 2.1GB to install all the bells and all the whistles and throw in the Acme Bell and Whistle Factory (which includes both GNOME and KDE).
Custom: Installs the minimum base of software and requires you to select additional services, utilities, and applications. A second option installs everything on the companion discs. The former requires at least 475 MB, and the latter, 5.0GB.
Upgrade: Updates the Red Hat Linux software that’s already installed on a computer but leaves all existing settings, users, and data alone. You can optionally choose to install additional packages.
Personal Desktop: Installs the software necessary to use your computer as a workstation. Applications such as OpenOffice, Mozilla, and Evolution plus the GNOME graphical environment give you all the tools you need to enjoy the Internet and get your work done. This installation type requires at least 1.7GB of free space.
Workstation: Adds software development tools to the Personal Desktop installation type. You need at least 2.1GB to use this option.
RememberThe primary difference between the Workstation and Personal Desktop installation types is that Workstation installs software development tools and Personal Desktop doesn’t. We use the Workstation installation option in this book not because we don’t discuss software programming but, rather, because the tools often come in handy when installing applications. We encourage you to use the Workstation installation type for your Red Hat Linux installations.
Both the Workstation and Personal Desktop installation types automate otherwise horrifically complicated decisions that no sane person would want to haggle with, such as how to partition your hard drive and select software. The installation includes the GNOME graphical user interface (GUI) and all the tools that an average computer user (that’s you) needs to survive. If you want software that the installation doesn’t provide, you can always add packages later.